At Life.Church we believe the local church is God's Plan A for helping orphans. Psalm 68:6 says, "God places the lonely in families." That's why we're passionate about placing those children, without homes, into loving families.

“There will be something this year that God asks you to do. There’s somethingHe’s preparing you forthat you don’t want to do but need to do.” Two years ago my pastor, Craig Groeschel, said this to our Life.Church Team. I knew what that “something” was for me—I’d known for several months. But when Craig challenged us, it clicked for my husband, too. (We both work for Life.Church at our Central offices.) I’d been praying for months that God would align us with a passion for foster care. That day, my prayers were answered and we started the process to become foster parents.

Fast forward two years and fivefoster placements later.This is the messiest, most beautiful journey I’ve ever walked. Three of those five placements have reunited with their parents. The hurt and grief that come with that areat timesunexplainable. There’s grief because you get attached, learn to love, and share memories only to experience the heartache of losing a child. But the reward is great because you see these children develop, their parents reach a healthy place, and the family restored.

When people find out we foster they oftensay things like, “I couldn’t do it!” or ask me, “How do you do it— how do you give them back?” My answers to both are simple: How could I not give a child the love and healthy attachment they need? It’s hard giving them back, but the goal is to place them in a healthy loving environment—hopefully with their biological parents.

The list of “why” or “I can’t” excuses can go on and on. But at the end of the day, I wholeheartedly believe as the body of Christit’s on us to care for orphans. I also believe not everyone is called to open their home for foster care. There are so many ways to be involved in foster care. Things like: run errands, prepare meals, mow yards, babysit, provide respite care, pray for the families, even donate toys and clothes.

So, what’s the right way for you to become involved in orphan care? First, pray about your involvement. Ask God what this looks like for you and your family. Next, I’d encourage you to reach out to your Life.Church campus to connect you with a local foster care agency. They are the best resource for us as a foster family and have many opportunities for you to serve the orphans in your community. But no matter what, prayer is the key thing that everyone can do. Pray for these children, their parents, their circumstances, and their salvation. These kids are in your community, in your children’s classrooms, in our church, they might even be your neighbor. Let’s love them the way Jesus does—unconditionally.

Our mission is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

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